News. Crime Stories, Law on News and Legal Publications in February, 2012

Top Picks in News

The British actress is not the first renowned beauty to have her image digitally enhanced to give a false impression of the benefits of using popular beauty products. An advertisement for an Olay anti-aging product featuring Twiggy was banned in 2009.more »

The US Treasury is Aiming to Lower the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ...

San Francisco Chronicle (press release)February 1, 2012

Ideal Tax Solution is amongst these companies broadening their horizons to assists all Americans tax problems. The US Treasury discussed a few months ago, possibly working with the FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) to lower the standards on it ...more »

Latest Legal and Criminal News

Administrative Law

Judge upholds demotion of one firefighter, firing of another for roles in prank

Macon Telegraph (blog)February 1, 2012

By AMY LEIGH WOMACK - awomack@macon.com An administrative law judge has upheld discipline imposed on two firefighters in connection with a prank at a Bibb County fire station involving a masked man threatening firefighters.more »

Health Care Law

The University of Utah next week will stage a preview of the US Supreme Court proceedings concerning the Affordable Care Act, the controversial legislation overhauling health care. The SJ Quinney College of Law has invited two scholars to debate the ...more »

Admiralty & Maritime Law

Editorial: Race on STOCK Act gets curiouser and curiouser

USA TODAYFebruary 1, 2012

Members of Congress (and their staff, and all federal employees, for that matter) are prohibited by law from using inside information to make stock trades. Yet no member, at least in recent memory, has been investigated for insider trading even though ...more »

Immigration Law

Report: Immigration law will cost Alabama billions

SunHerald.comFebruary 1, 2012

A study by a long-standing economic research center at the University of Alabama says Alabama's new immigration law will cost the state billions of dollars because of income lost by illegal immigrants who will have to leave the state, lost tax income ...more »

Industrial Development Law

Mosquito breeders to feel full sting of the law

Sunday Times.lkFebruary 5, 2012

Some of Greater Colombo's public areas have become veritable mosquito breeding “factories” and havens of pollution. Less than a half-hour's drive from the Ministry of Health, the nerve centre from which anti-dengue operations are being directed, ...more »

Insurance Litigation

Langsam Stevens adds partners, tweaks name

Philadelphia Business Journal (blog)February 6, 2012

Environmental law boutique Langsam Stevens & Silver has changed its name to Langsam Stevens Silver & Hollaender with the addition of three partners from Nelson Levine de Luca & Horst. New partner Kim Hollaender will be added to the firm's name and will ...more »

Animal Law

DC rat summit: Another day in the sun for city's rodents

Washington PostFebruary 8, 2012

While restrictions on the handling of animals are now in effect, the city has not yet identified funding to enforce a pest-control licensing regime included in the law. The environment department is in the process of drafting regulations setting prices ...more »

Intellectual Property

Why an International Trade Agreement Could Be as Bad as SOPA

The AtlanticFebruary 6, 2012

A few weeks ago a sleeping giant woke up, when the Internet -- average users and Silicon Valley companies -- united in protest against two bills before Congress, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), ...more »

Asbestos Litigation

Essex: Campaign to change legislation over flytipping gathers pace

East Anglian Daily TimesFebruary 1, 2012

Ultimately we are looking to influence a change in legislation.” Explaining the extent of the problem, CPREssex chairman Tom Holme said: “Waste including household rubbish and tyres, asbestos and demolition material, fridges and washing machines is ...more »

Labor & Employment Law

Prop 209 Just, Despite Governor's Opposition

Berkeley High JacketFebruary 11, 2012

Proponents of affirmative action policies claim that the black child must be given favor to counter historical oppression. This dilemma has become something of a controversy about freedoms and equal protection of rights. To resolve the issue, ...more »

Aviation

More Information on Aviation Geek Fest 2012 – February 19, 2012

Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)February 1, 2012

The Future of Flight, Boeing and AirlineReporter.com are continuing to move forward with Aviation Geek Fest 2012 (#AGF12) and are ready to share a rough draft schedule of events for the day. Times can change — well really anything can change, ...more »

Landlord & Tenant Law

Landlord urges tenancy cheats to come clean during fraud amnesty

24dash (press release)February 1, 2012

Terry Bonner, KHT's Operational Director of Landlord Services, said: “Tenancy fraud takes away homes from those on waiting lists who desperately need them. “We want to appeal to those who are committing fraud to do the right thing now, rather than risk ...more »

Bankruptcy Law

Higgs said his crime began in 2007, when the real estate market began to deteriorate in the United States and the valuations of mortgage-backed securities faced significant reductions. The ensuing sub-prime mortgage crisis fueled the financial meltdown ...more »

Business Law

City places ad for police chief position

Brownsville HeraldFebruary 1, 2012

By LAURA B. MARTINEZ/The Brownsville Herald Nearly two months after Police Chief Carlos Garcia announced his retirement from the police department, the city of Brownsville will start advertising the chief of police position.more »

Military Law & Military Benefits

Palos business turning battle vs. PTSD into a real dogfight

SouthtownStarFebruary 10, 2012

The benefits for a veteran with PTSD working with a service dog are very real, according to Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr. Anthony R. Peterson, a psychologist and the Section Chief of the PTSD Programs at the Capt. James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in ...more »

Computer & Internet Related Crimes

Teacher pleads not guilty to possession of child pornography

Bennington BannerFebruary 6, 2012

He is also barred from using a computer with access to the Internet. Dockum was put on administrative leave from the school with pay on Oct. 5. Bennington police have said there is no evidence to suggest the alleged images involved local children, ...more »

Personal Injury

Crash Sends Two To Hospital

Jamestown Post JournalFebruary 20, 2012

The New York State Police out of Fredonia investigated the personal-injury car accident on Highland Avenue in Portland. According to police, Johnathan Winslow, 22, of Fredonia was driving north on Highland Avenue when he went off onto the west shoulder ...more »

Constitutional Law & Civil Rights

Here's a state law that needs no fixing

Concord MonitorFebruary 2, 2012

By Joan Flood Ashwell and Sally Davis / For the Monitor House Bill 1354, currently before the New Hampshire House Election Law Committee, seeks to change the definition of who lives or doesn't live in New Hampshire for citizens who want to register to ...more »

Professional Malpractice

R. BROOKS ASSOC., INC. v. HARTER SECREST & EMERY LLP

Leagle.comFebruary 1, 2012

Memorandum: Defendant appeals from an order denying its motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint in this legal malpractice action. We agree with defendant that the action is time-barred, and we therefore reverse the order, grant the motion ...more »

Consumer Protection

Consumers must protect their rights: Agarwala

Assam TribuneFebruary 6, 2012

... Additional Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Consumers' Affairs stressed that there should be the provisions of punishment and deterrence against the violators of consumers rights to give more teeth to the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.more »

Real Estate Law

Pro-Obama Super PAC gets donations from real estate firm, Hollywood

Washington PostFebruary 3, 2012

Priorities USA Action, an independent group founded by former Obama aides, raised $4.4 million in 2011 from donors that included: — John C. Law, the managing director of Warland Investments, a commercial real estate and investment firm in Santa Monica ...more »

Contracts

LEAF's commercial finance assets at December 31, 2011 increased to $224.5 million, an increase of $32.5 million, or 17%, from September 30, 2011. -- Securitization: On October 28, 2011, LEAF securitized approximately $105 million of leases, ...more »

Sports Law

Entertainment News from AP Law enforcement officials blocked the bridge in both directions on Thursday as they worked to resolve the incident. (WCIV) By Stefanie Bainum CHARLESTON, SC (WCIV) – Police have charged 38-year-old Phillip DeClemente with ...more »

Criminal Defense

Lawyer hits integrity of suspected accomplice in Bashara case

The Detroit NewsFebruary 1, 2012

(David Coates / The Detroit News) Grosse Pointe Park— The man police are questioning as a suspected accomplice in the killing of Jane Bashara has little credibility, according to a prominent criminal defense attorney who visited the Bashara home ...more »

Tax Law

Federal Tax Dodgers Owe $3.4 Billion

The Fiscal TimesFebruary 2, 2012

Under federal labor law, it is illegal for an employer to terminate an employee on the basis that their earnings are garnished for any one debt, including owing taxes, except in case of IRS employees who can be terminated for unpaid taxes.more »

Elder Law

Judge says Sours case should go to jury

Savannah Morning NewsFebruary 8, 2012

By Frank Morris Former Bluffton Police Lt. Katherine Sours' age discrimination suit against the town of Bluffton is on track for a US District Court jury trial. See why in this verbatim copy of a US magistrate judge's report and recommendation, ...more »

Trusts & Estate Planning

By James Contini Developing an estate with an asset protection plan for mineral rights has become a very hot topic for area residents as an oil and natural gas exploration boom develops in the Tuscarawas Valley region. If you own unleased mineral ...more »

Environmental Law

Wrong track in Richmond

The Virginian-PilotFebruary 6, 2012

... of lunacy — with outlawing abortions to the exclusion of vital issues such as funding for transportation, education, law enforcement, medical research, alternative energy exploration and dealing with the elderly, poor and homeless in Virginia.more »

Wills & Probate

Slamming the Door on the Government Thieves

Huffington Post (blog)February 6, 2012

The poorly maintained records and the lack of a system to probate the wills of the Indian landowners was the main reason the land is so fractionated and it is the very government now willing to take $2 billion from the cash poor Indians to straighten ...more »

Family Law

OUR OPINION: Courageous families more powerful than any drug law

The Patriot LedgerFebruary 3, 2012

John Keenan of Quincy deserve credit for pushing laws aimed at fighting drug abuse. But the true power behind this movement is the families of addicts who reject their immobilizing feelings of shame and instead embrace the empowering realization that ...more »

Workers Compensation

based AMERCO (Nasdaq: UHAL) announced on Wednesday that following an internal review of its property and casualty subsidiary's excess workers' compensation business, Repwest will take a third quarter fiscal 2012 charge to strengthen its loss reserves.more »